Apparatus for packing fruit



E. F. MEER Sept. 24, 1935.

APPARATUS FOR PACKING FRUIT Original Filed June 24, 1929 .2 Sheets-Sheet l we A35 /52 /20 //vv5/v 7-079.- fOfQ/Ord Sept. 24, 1935. ,E, E 2,015,455

APPARATUS FOR PACKING FRUIT Original Filed June 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hrroenvcyl Patented Sept. 1935 UNITED STATES 2,015,455 APfiAnA'rUs FOR PACKING FRUIT PATENT OFFICE Edward F. Meer, Monrovia', Oalif.

' Original application June 24, 1929, Serial Nor 373,098. Divided and this application 1931, Serial No. 538,174

May 18,

.11 Claims. (01. 100- 57),

This invention relates to an apparatus for press- This case is a division of that application, and

the apparatus shown herein while adaptable for many different purposes with slight modifications, was particularly designed for carrying out the fruit packing method disclosed inthe above noted co-pending application.

In the above mentioned method a: fruit shipping case is made up with the sides spaced from the ends and the partition of the box, the nails for securing the sides to the ends of. the partitions being only partially driven into the latter. With the box thus made up, fruit is packed therein so that it extends above the top of the box to form what is called a .crown pack. Incarrying out v the method, it is necessary to press in the sides of thebox to thenormal position relative to the ends and the partition thereof and concurrently to press the cover down on the box. In carrying out this method, as well as in the lidding' of a fruit shipping box by the ordinary method, I have found that there is a tendency for the cover com g ing down on the side tiers of fruit thereof to cut the fruit against the upper edges of the sides of the box.

It is accordingly' an object of my invention to provide a cover press having means for preventing the fruit being caught between the cover and'the sides of the boxwhen the cover is depressed into lidding position. J v It is another object of my invention to provide a coverpress in which means are provided for automatically tucking fruit inside of an upper edge of a borrside when a cover is-pressed downwardly onto the fruit in the box.

The manner of accomplishing thejforegoing objectsas well as further objects and advantages I will be made apparent in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which:

tion 55 and middle partition of the box as this is effected ,Fig. l-is a plan view of a preferred embodiment Fig. .2 is afrontlelevatibnal view of the press 4 shown in Fig. 1, parts thereof shown in section asindicated by the line 2 2 .of Fig. 4,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the pressure members of the aforementioned press.

Fig. ,4 is an end elevational view of aforesaid 5 press.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view .of Fig. 4 taken in the direction of arrow 5.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional vievgiken on the line of Fig. 4.

F1 8,. is a fragmentary perspective view of a. depre sing finger embodied insaid press.

"Fig. 9'is a fragmentary view of a roller grab box embodied in aforesaid press and taken in the direction of .the arrow 9 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 10' is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l0l0 of Fig. 4.

. Fig. llis a perspective view of a packed box of 4 oranges.

Fig. 12 is a' diagrammatic fragmentary view illustrating the extent to which the side nails are driven into the box ends and middle partition when the packing box is filled with fruit and inserted in my apparatus.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the completion of the nailing of the sides'to the ends by my apparatus. Referring fspeciflcally to the. drawings, the combined box and cover pressl5 represents the preferred embodiment of my invention and includes a cover pressing means I6 and a side pressing means l1. v

The combined press! l5 includes a short sec- 3 "tion of roller track l8 having angle frame members L9 and 20 upon which are mountedsuitable ball bearing rollers 2|. The members l9 and 20 are supported by a. pair of front legs 24 and a pair of rear legs 25. The legs 25 are connected. together'. by a transverse angle irpnmember 26 and the legs 25 are individually connected with the legs 24 by bolts'2'l passing through compression tubes 28. Ri dly conne t ng the frame members l9 and 20 with the le s and 25 are short metal braces30. Connecting upper portions of. the legs 24 is.a longitudinal angle. iron frame3l.

The press l5 also includesa vertical pair of angle iron members 35 between which is provided a cover press slide bar runway 36. The members35 are connected atltheir lower ends by the transverse member. 25 and at their upper ends by a plate 31 and medially to the longitu- 55 dinal framemember It. Provided on the upper ends of the angle iron members are arms 4| rotatably supporting a roller 4| which is disposed tangent to the rear edge of the aforementioned slide bar runway 38-. Siidably fitting in Y said runway is a vertical slide bar 42 having a cover depressing yoke 43 pivotally mounted on its upper end as shown, this yoke being provided with a pair of cover contact members 44. Extending forwardly from the lower end of the slide bar 42 is a lug 4|.

Extending rearwardly from the lower portions of the angle iron members II is a pair of V- shaped plates 49 between apexes of which extends a pin SI upon which is pivotally mounted a cover depressing lever II. The lever 5| exis a latch "having a pawl II, the latch ll being urged by a spring II so that when this latch is free the pawl III is pressed against the outer face of the ratchet-toothed bar l4. Secured at one end under the head of the cap screw II and at the other end by a screw 04 to the lever II is a guide bracket 85.

Pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the lever II and the lock 4. on the slide bar 42is a pair of links.

Connected at their upper ends to lugs l0 formed at the lower edge of the plates 44, and at their lower ends to inward bent ears formed on a plate II attached in any suitable manner to the rear face of the slide bar 42 are long coiled ten- SiOn springs n which yiel'dably support the slide bar 42, the yoke 43, and the cover depressing lever 5|.

The cover pressing means II of the press II having been described; the side pressing means I'|- may now be described 'as follows:

Seem-ed to forward faces of the vertical frame members 35 is a short horizontal channel iron \member I! and supported on the member II and the longitudinal angle iron member SI are horizontal channel J iron frame members It. Mounted in suitable bearings secured upon upper faces of the mmbers It at their opposite, ends are shafts II and II. Rigidly secured upon shaft are hubs ll of a pair of rocker members 24 having arms ti and OI. Pivotally mounted between extremities of the arms I0 is a heavy roller l1. Pivotally mounted on the upper end of the arms 05 is a box side engagingmember I. The

member 9| includes a channel iron member II,

a face plate t2 which is substantially the same as the complete side of a box which itis desired to press, and triangular outer. and inner plates 94 and l! which are disposed between the ,member 8| and the plate .2 and are'welded tothese'so as'to form a rigid assembly. Disposed between the forward ends of the plates II and coextensive vertically therewith is a relatively heavy reinforcing plate of metal II which issecured preferably by welding to the plate 92 and the-plate 05. The triangular plates 24 and '85 extend slightly above the upper edge of the through suitable holes in their heads.

face plate '2 and support an upper fruit protecting guide 00 in the manner shown so that this plate projects beyond the working face of the face plate 22 a distance equal to the thickness of sides used on a box to be handled'in the 5 press II. A center fruit protecting guide IIIO is provided on the working face of the face plate 92 for a purpose to be described later.

The upper ends of the arms I! are pivotally connected by suitable pins to triangular plates 10 95 and the box side engaging member ill is held in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4 by pins I05 provided on the arms I! and engaging the plates as shown.

Threaded through suitable openings in the vertical frame members 35 and bearing against the reinforcing'piate ll so as to form rear stops for the side engaging member it .are bolts These bolts are looked as by a wire I" threaded I 20 The shaft 2| extends through a hub III of a rocker III having arms 2 and H3. The hub III is rigidly secured tothe shaft BI.

Provided on corresponding ends of shafts ll and" areapairofarms lliand II, thesearms 25 being connected by a spring III teridingto ro- '-tate the shafts Cl and II in opposite directions for a purpose to be described later.

Supported on the upper end of the arm H2 is a box side enga ing member I II which includes a 30' channel iron member Ill, a face plate I20, vertical angle iron members I2 I, triangular brackets I22 and I2! which are welded to the plate I20 and the member Ill so as to connect theseas shown in Fig. 3. The brackets in and m are similarly formed of sheet metal to provide pockets I28 and I26, the upper end of the arm 2 extending into the pocket I28 and beingpivotally connected to; the bracket I23 by a pin I21. The side engaging member m is maintained in upright position withtherocker III inthepositionshownin Fig.4 by a pin I" provided on the arm 2 and engagding the bracket I22.

by the ress II. Provided on the face plate in so as to extend inwardly therefrom horizontally along the center line thereof, is a'middle .fruit swu'd I33.

Rigidly mounted on outer faces of the vertical angle iron members In are roller brackets Ill carrying rollers II in the manner shown. 8ecured to the forward face ofthe vertical slide bar 42 just beneath the longitudinal press frame member I. as by screws I4! is an arm depressing finger MI. The finger I4I projects over the rear end of the arm I II which is pivotally connected to a yoke 143 provided on a I44 which extends downwardly.

Disposed against the upper and lower ends of the V-shaped plates 40 and secured thereto' by the same rivets which secure these'plates to the vertical members 85 is a pair of brackets I41 upon whichis pivotally mounted by bolts I4la pair of lever arms I which extend forward and 7 upwardly at substantially the same angle as the 1 er 5| and are connected at the forward end by a pedal plate I". The foot plate I" is disposed Just inside of and on substantially the same level as the foot plate 56. Seem-ed to upper faces of 76' the lever arms I46 is a guide plate I52 having fingers I56 which extend on oppositesides of the ratchet-toothed bar 54 so as to guide the lever metal head I62 formed on the upper end of the link I 56 and having an inner face I66 which bears against one side of the dull bar, I46. The upper end of the link I66 has a head I64 having inner face I65 which is spaced from and disposed at an angle to the opposite face of the pull bar I66.

Connecting the link heads I62 and I64 are front and rear plates I61 which are attached thereto as by suitable screws I66. Disposed between the pull bar I46 and the inclined surface I65 is a pinch roller I66 and a compression spring I16 which rests upon a floor I1I extending from I the head I64 at the lower end of the surface I65 and forces the pinch roller I66 upward into snug engagement with both the pull bar I 46 and the surface I65. The surface I is at such an angle that'when the grab clutch I6I is pulled down wardly by the links I56 or I66 the grab roller I66 will bind between the surfaces I65 and the pull bar I 46 and pull the bar I46 downwardly with the clutch I6I, and so that when the clutch I6I is moved upwardly the pinch roller I66 will readilyslide upon the adjacent surface of the bar I46. Provided on the channel frame member 15 is a bracket I12 which extendsover the head I64 and has a bolt I16 adjustably provided thereon so as to extend downwardly and contact the roller I66 and move this downward so 'as to prevent the clutch I6I from grabbing the bar I46 while the pair of levers I46 is in upward position.

Connecting to fittings I15 mounted on the pins I56 and to the channel frame member 15 are coiled tension springs I16 which yieldably maintain the pair of levers I46 in upward position as shown in Fig. 4.

As set forth in my copending application mentioned hereinabove, the novel fruit packing method with which the press I5 is adapted to be used includes the making up of fruit boxes such as the boxI66 shownin Figs. 4 and 11 so that side slats I64 and I65 of this box are loosely nailed to end pieces I62 and middle partition I66 of this box. The fruit having been packed in this box, the latter is placed in the press I5, as

shown in Fig. 4', with side slats I65 resting against moves in over the upper edge of: the upper slat I 65 to move the adjacent row of fruit inthe upper tier thereofrinwardiy and out of contact with-this edge. v

The operator of the cover and sidepress I5 now places the lid I66 over the box.I66 inthe position shown and steps upon the foot pedal 56 in a manher to depress this without moving the foot plate I56. Depressi.r'ig. the foot pedal 56 draws down upon the vertical slide bar 42 and presses end portions of the lid; I66 against the'fruit in the carries with it the depressing finger "I which rotates the rocker III on its shaft 6| bringing the side engaging member II6 into contact with the side slats I64 so that the middle guard strip I66 extends betweenthe slat's I64 and the upper guard 5 strip I62 extendsinwardly along the top edge of the uppermost of these slats. This action of the upper guard strip I62 has the same effect as the positioning of the. guard strip 66 above the upper slat I65 on the upper side of the box I66. In other words the outer rows of the upper tier of fruit are positively tucked inwardly by the guard members 66 and I62 so that'the subsequent downward movement of the lid I66 wiilsnot pinch these outer rows of fruit against the cuter edges of the'upper side slats I64 and I65. With the rotation of the rocker III as above noted, the pull bar I44 is lowered a slight distance through the grab clutch I6I. As the lever 5| downwardly the pawl 66 engages with teeth on 20 the ratchet-toothed guide bar 54 and retains this I lever in position when the foot is removed. 1

With the side engagement member II6 contacting the box side slats I64, the rollers I66 engageouter surfaces of the box ends I62 so as to 25 prevent any tendency of expansion of these dur ing the pressing in of the sides of th box466.

It is desired to point out here that the adjustment screws I66 as shown in Fig. '1 are positioned so that when the foot levers 5| and I46 are in 36 inactive position there will be suflicient space between the lower edge of the rocker arm I I6 and the roller 61, journalled between the rocker arms 66, so that the depression of the foot pedal 56 sufllciently to bring the side engagement member 35 II6 against the box side slats I64 will just bring the rocker arm I I6 into contact with the roller 61.

The operator now steps upon the footplate I56, bringing it downward with his entire weight. This moves the grab clutch I6I downwardly, pull- 4 ing with it the pull bar I44 and further swinging the rocker III so that the side engagement mem- -ber II6 presses the side slats I62 snugly againstv the ends and partition of the box I66, driving home the nails I66 in these slats. 45

\ As the rocker arm II6 is in contact with the roller 61 at the commencement of the down stroke of the grab clutch I6I the rockers 64 and 65 are" also rotated about the shaft 66 so as to press in the side slats I65 concurrently with the pressing 50 of the side slats I64. During the pressing in of the side slats of the box I 66 the fruit is guarded I against being cut by edges of these slats by the guards 66 and I66 on one side and I62 and I66 on the other side, these guards lying, as previously 55 described, in the same vertical plane as the side slats adjacent thereto.

I The. foot is now removed from the pedal I 56 permitting the levers I46 to swing upwardly until the bolt 116 engages the grab roller I66, diam-.66

gaging the grab clutch I6I from the pull down bar I46. Urged by the spring ill, the rockers I 64, 65 and I II are rotated until the rocker arm 1 II6 contacts the depressing finger I and the roller 61 engages the lower'face of this rocker 65 The pressing in of the side slats I64 and I65 drives the nails I66 into the ends and partition of the box I 66 so that when the box side engagevment members 66 and II6 drawaway the slatsl64 70 and I 65' are leftriailed tightiyto the box ends d partition as shown in Figs. 11 and 13. 1

If the cover I 66 has not previously been brought snugly againstthe box and I62 by depression of the foot lever 5|, thismay be done now and the 7 s cover nailed to the box ends by hand or by an automatic nailing machine which might easily be incorporated with the cover press I6 in a manner well known in the art.

By engaging the catch 59 with the foot and slightly depressing the pedal 50 the dog OI can be disengaged from the ratchet-guide 54 and the lever permitted to return upward to normal, thus lifting the cover depressers 44 from the cover I 88 so that the box I 80 is free to be shoved along the roller conveyer l I onto a discharge-conveyor (not shown) which is associated therewith. A metal strap IN is now applied to the box in a manner shown in Fig. 11 and the box I" is ready for shipment.

From the foregoing description of the structure and manner of operation of the press II, it is seen to have a number of advantages over all cover presses hitherto provided by the fruit-packing art. While cover press li is particularly designed to include a side comprwsing function to permit it to be used in carrying out the novel method before mentioned, it also has important features which are adapted to be used with cover presses in general.

One of these features is the provision of the guards 98 and I I! which tuck the outer rows of the upper tier of fruit I" inwardly within th planes of the inner faces of the side slats of the box before the lid I is brought forciblydownwardly against the fruit. While guards for accomplishing this which are operable entirely separate from the lid depresser have been known previously. in the art, it is believedto be entirely novel in the press of my invention to actuate guards with the tucking function of the guards 99 and I" in conjunction with a lid" depressing mechanism such as that by which these guards are operated in the presentpress.

What I claim is:

1. In a box press time combination of: means for supporting a box filled with contents to be shipped and having a side member thereof only partially assembled upon other members of said box; means for forcing said side member inward-.

ly relative to said'other members-to complete said assembly and compress said contents;

and means for holding certain of said other box members to preventlengthwise expansion of said .box during said compression.

2. In a box press the combination of: means for supporting a box filled with contents to be shipped and having a side member thereof only partially assembled upon other members of said .box; means for forcing said side member inwardly relative to said other members to complete said assembly and compress said contents; means for holding certain of said other box members to preventiengthwise expansion of said box duringsaid compression; and means for pressing a cover on said box simultaneously with said side compression.

3. In a boxpress the combination of: a' nailing table for supporting a box overfllled with fresh farm produce and having a side member thereof only partially assembled upon transverse members of said box;-means for pressing a cover onto said box to bring endsof said cover onto ends of said box and permit said cover to bulge up-.

wardly in the middle; and means pressing said side member inwardly to complete said assembly and compress said produce.

4. In a box press the combination of: a nail-.

ing table for-supporting a box overfllled with fresh farm produce and having a side member bers on sai with to en age the ends of said box and centralize 2 0 thereof only partially assembled upon transverse members of said box; means for pressing a cover onto said box to bring ends of said cover onto ends of said box and permit said cover to bulge upwardly in the middle; means pressing said side 5 member inwardly to complete said assembly and compress said produce; and overflow gathering means on said side pressing means for gathering said produce inside of the inner face of said side member during said pressing operation- 5. In a cover press for overfllled boxes the combination of: a press table; means for gathering in the overflow over the upper edge of a side of .said box; means for engaging the cover ends to' press these down towards the ends of the box 15;

and leaving the middle of the cover bulging up wardly; means for actuating the aforementioned means coordinately; and box centralizing memgathering means and moving there;

said box on said table.

6. In a cover press for overiilled boxes the com- 'bination of: a press table; means for gathering in the overflow over the upper edge of a side of said box; means for moving said gathering means inward; and box centralizing members on said gathering means and moving therewith to engage the ends of said box and centralize said box on said table. I v

7. In a cover pressing device the combination of a ailing table adapted to receive a box; cover pr g neans adapted to engage opposite ends of a c r placed over said box; means for causing rela ive vertical'movement between said table and said cover pressing means to press said cover onto. said box in position for'nailing thereto; a gathering member adapted to move inwardly into a position closely overlying a side wall of said box to shift overflow inward from overlapping relation with said wall, said gathering mem- 40 her extending longitudinally at .one side of the position of said box on said table and being pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from said box; and means for automatically operating said gathering member as aforesaidin 4.5 timely relation with saidivertical movement.

8. In a cover pressing d vice the combination of: a nailing table adapted receive a box; cover pressing means adapted to engage opposite ends of a cover placed over said box; means for caus-' ing relative vertical movement between said table and said cover pressing means to press'said cover onto said box in position for nailing thereto; a gathering member adapted to move inwardly into a position closely overlying a sidewall of said box to shift overflow inward from overlapping, relation with said wall, said gathering member extending longitudinally at one side of the position of said box'on said table substantiallythe full length of said box, and being pivotally mounted on said table for movement toward and away from said box; and means for automatically operating said gathering member as aforesaid in timely relation with. said vertical movement.

9. In a cover pressing device the combination of: a nailing table adapted to receive a box; cover pressingtmeans mounted to engage Opposite ends of a cover'placed 'oversaid box; means for caus; ing relative vertical movement between said table and said cover pressing means to press said .cover onto said box in position for nailing thereto;

a gathering member mounted below the plane of that portion of the pressing means'in engagement with the cover for movement inwardly to shift-produce overlying a wall of said box bodily and completely inwardly from over said wall;- said gathering member, while engaging the produce in said gathering operation, travelling along a substantially horizontal path disposed a close distance above said vertical wall and with not -more' than a relatively slight vertical movement relative to said box; and means for automatically actuating said gathering member as aforesaid,

.in timely relation with said vertical movement so of: a nailing table adapted to receive a box; cover pressing means mounted to engage opposite ends of a cover placed over said box; means for causing relative vertical movement between said table and said cover pressing means to press said cover onto said box in position for nailing thereto; a gathering member initially positioned substantially in the plane of the upper edge of the side walls of the box and mounted for movement inwardly in a substantially horizontal path to shift produce overlying a wall of said box bodily and completely inwardly from over said wall, said gathering member, while engaging the produce in said gathering operation, traveling along a substantially horizontal path disposed a close distance above said vertical wall and with not more than a relatively slight vertical movement rela tive to said box; and means for automatically actuating said gathering member as aforesaid, in timely relation with said vertical movement so that the gathering movement of .said gathering member is completed before the lid is brought forcibly downwardly against the produce. 5

11. In a cover pressing device the combination of: a mailing table adapted to receive a box; cover pressing means mounted to engage opposite ends of a cover placed over said box: means for causing relative vertical movement between said table and said cover pressing means to press said cover onto said box in position for nailing thereto; a gathering member'mouted for movement inwardly to engage produce overlying a wall of said box and shift said produce bodily and 15 completely inwardly from over said wall, said gathering member, while engaging the produce in said gathering operation; traveling along a substantially horizontal path extending inwardly over said vertical wall a close distance thereabove, said gathering member while engaging said produce, having not more than a relatively slight vertical movement relative to said box and in its inwardmost position entirely overlying said wall; and means for' automatically actuating said 25 gathering member as aforesaid, in timely relation with said vertical movement so that the gathering movement of said gathering member is completed before the lid is brought forcibly downwardly against the produce.

30 EDWARD F. MEER. 

